The pay cabler will bring back the 12-episode third season of "Boardwalk Empire" on Sept. 16 while New Orleans saga "Treme" is back for 10-episode third season on Sept. 23.

"Boardwalk Empire," which stars Steve Buscemi as an Atlantic City kingpin during the early days of Prohibition, was created by Terence Winter, who exec produces with Martin Scorsese, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and Tim Van Patten. Co-stars include Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon and Jack Huston.

The series may receive a handful of Emmy nominations when the nods are announced July 19.

"Treme," about life in the Crescent City following Hurricane Katrina, comes from David Simon and Eric Overmyer. Among those in the ensemble are Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters and Khandi Alexander.

The show has never been a strong ratings earner for HBO, but the network has had a long association with Simon ("The Corner," "The Wire" and "Generation Kill").

HBO recently ordered a second season of "Newsroom" and a fourth season of comedy "Eastbound & Down."